The Denver Broncos added two immediate value pickups in the first two rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, but added depth at the wide receiver position in the third round.
Denver Broncos add depth at WR, draft Illinois’ Pat Bryant 74th overall
With the 74th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos selected Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant. Bryant’s addition adds to the depth of the room that currently features Courtland Sutton as the premier option, Marvin Mims, Devaughn Vele, Troy Franklin, A.T. Perry, and Trent Sherfield.
Initially, Broncos fans aren’t reacting well to the pick on whatever social media sites they use, but let’s break down the addition.
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Sean Payton and George Paton have stated numerous times this offseason, including last week that they really like their current wide receiver room. They’re expecting big jumps from Vele and Franklin this season, while Mims looks to build on his breakout year last season.
Bryant comes into the room with 6’3 size and 190 pounds. He ran a 4.61 in the 40-yard dash and wasn’t brought in to be a speed guy — it’s the intangibles that come with him that the Broncos like. He’s a reliable pass catcher who only had one drop last season.
“That’s how I am as a receiver,” Bryant said. “My main focus when the ball is in the air is [that] it’s mine and I’m better than the man that’s in front of me.”
On top of that, he’s a physical blocker who doesn’t shy away from getting himself involved on the perimeter.
“My motto was always, ‘You block, you get the rock,’” Bryant said. “So my main focus was just using my physicality both in the pass game as well as the run game, just helping my running backs get to the end zone.”
When it comes to speed, that’s one thing Broncos fans wanted in a wide receiver or an elite-level route runner, but Denver has those traits in mind for the roles they’ve got carved out for Franklin and Mims. Mims has legit downfield speed but is 5’11. Franklin is 6’2 with Mims-like speed and can stretch the field, while Denver hopes to maximize the size and athleticism of Sutton and ‘Joker’ tight end Evan Engram.
In his last two seasons at Illinois, Bryant hauled in 17 touchdowns, with 10 of them coming last season. He averaged nearly 18.2 yards per catch in 2024.
Stay tuned this week for a film breakdown on Bryant on Mile High Sports YouTube channel.